Damper frame



June 27, 1967 J. C. KURZ 3,327766 DAMPER FRAME Filed Sept. 23, 1965 M/VEN7'O/i JOHN C. KURZ United States Patent O 3327766 DAMPER FRAME John C. Kurz, Philadelphia, Pa. assignor to Air Balance, Inc. Philadelphia, Pa. a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Sept. 23, 1965, Ser. N0. 489,681 3 Claims. (C1. 160381) This invention relates generally to darnper structures and more particularly relates to a novel one piece perimeter frame for damper structures which typically could find utilization in a fire damper device employing a stack of reversely flded continuous interlocked blades, and is an improvement over the frame disclosed in the copending application of Francis J. McCa-be, Ser. N0. 426,183, filed Jan. 18, 1965, and assigned to the assignee of the instant application.

In the past, the frarnes for damper structures have been constructed from a plurality of straight sections cut to size and normally intersecured at the corners, as by welding or bolting, to form generally rectangular frames. This type of assembly usually requires jigging to hold the parts in proper relative position while frame assembly is being carried out. The cutting to size, jigging and assembly operations associated with the frame structures entail a comsiderable amount of time so that the labor charge associated with frame construction represents an appreciable cost factor in the production of the finished product. Accordingly, it is a principal object of my invention to provide a novel one piece pen'meter frame for a damper structure in which all of the cutting and forrning operations required to provide a finished frame are carried out on a piece of frame stock while it is a Single straight piece of material which is therefarter bent into its final reetangular configuration and locked up by securing elements which are an integral part of the frame.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel one piece perimeter damper frame as aforesaid which requlres no welding or bolts in its construction.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel damper frame which results in a high rate of production, a sharp reduction in the labor costs associated With production of such a frame and other manufacturing economies resulting in part from a substantially reduced rejection rate.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel damper frarne as aforesaid which in one form is usable directly as a gravity actuated blade assembly drop curtain frame, and which may be simply adapted for use as a power actuated blade assembly mounting frame.

The foregoing and other objects of my invention Will appear more fully hereinafter from a reading of the following specification in conjunction with an examination of the annended drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the frame stock utilizing a finger interlock to provide frame lock-up and optional tabbing for blade locking guide bracket securement;

FIGURE 2 illustrates in perspective the frame stock of FIGURE 1 bent into rectangular form with the locking fingers interfitted but not yet secured and with locking guides tabbed to the frame flanges;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the upper right corner of the frame shown in FIGURE 2 and shows the locking fingers bent over into frame locking position; and

FIGURE 4 shows in perspective one of the optional locking guides intended for tab securement to the frame.

In the several figures, like elements are denoted by like reference characters.

Referring now to the drawing, FIGURE 1 illustrates the form of completely punched frame stock which eliminates the need to use separate L-shaped corner plates to accomplish lock-up of the frame and also eliminates the riveting operation required to secure blade locking brackets to the frame. This preferred form of punched frame stock by comparison with that of FIGURE 14 of the above identified co-pending application, Ser. N0. 426,183, does not have the corner platte securing tabs 62, blade assembly retainer support holes 63, or flange rivet holes 66 needed for securing the blade locking guides to the frarne.

The punched frame mernber is formed from stock having a main planar central web 141 disposed between longitudinally parallel extending opposite side margins 142 coplanar with the central web 141, and a pair of longitudinally extending spaced apart parallel upstanding flanges 143a and 143 b disposed between and orthogonally to the central web and side margins. These flanges are respectively right angle notched by suitable dies and punches at spaced intervals along the length cf the flanges, as at a and 150b, so that the punched stock may be bent through the notehes transversely to the length of the stock 140 to form up the desired frame, as seen for example in FIGURE 2.

A plurality of sets of mounting holes 154 are punched through the frame stock side margins 142 with at least one set being provided for the interval which forms the top side of the finished frame so that a blade assembly se-curing strap may be passed therethrough. Blade assembly pivot pin holes 157 are punched and countersunk in the central web 141 at oppositely aligned points in the intervals forming the frarne sides proxirnate to one end of the folded up frame.

One end of the frame stock is punched to provide three spaced apart rectangular fingers 158, the central one of which extends longitudinally from the central web 141 while the outer ones extend from the side margins 142. The opposite end of the frame stock is punched to provide two fingers 159 extending from the central web 141 at positions eorresponding to and of width substantially equal to the spaces between fingers 158 so that the fingers 158 and 159 closely interfit when the frame is folded up as shown in FIGURE 2. In a continuous flow system, the fingers 158 could be punched on the leading edge 01 one piece while the fingers 159 were being simultaneously punched at the trailing edge of the preceding piece.

The frame is locked up by merely turning the respective fingers 158 and 159 through ninety degrees against the proximate frame leg as shown in FIGURE 3.

The tabs 160 turned out of frame flange 143a are optional and need only be provided when it -is desired to utilize blade guide locking brackets 202 such as shown in perspective in FIGURE 4 and seen in FIGURE 2. These brackets 202 are similar to the brackets 102 previously described in connection with FIGURE 23 of the aforesaid co-pending application Ser. N0. 426,183, but ditfer therefrom basically in that the anchor leg 203 is provided with slots 204 to receive the frarne tabs 160 in lieu of the rivet holes 104 in brackets 102.

Having now described my invention in connection with a particularly illustrated embodirnent thereof, it will be clear that modifications and variations thereof may now occur from time to time to those persons normally skilled in the art without departing fr0m the essential scope or spirit of my invention, and accordingly it is intended to claim the same broadly as well as specifically as is indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A- folded one piece perirneter frarne structure of centrally open transverse cross section formed from a unitary piece of frarne stock which in unfolded form is characterized by having a longitudinally extending planar web with opposite ends and side edges and from one planar surface of which outwardly project a pair of spaced apart longitudinally extending parallel flanges spaced inward from said side edges and extending from end to and to thereby divide said planar web into a central web disposed between said flanges and -a pair of side margins disposed respectively laterally outward cf said flanges, said flanges being provided with a plurality of transversely aligned longitudinally spaced V-shaped notches each extending from the flanges outer edge convergingly inward to the point where the flange meets the planar web, and laterally sp-aced frame securing finger elements interlockable with one another integrally formed and extending longitudinally from each of the opposite ends of the frame stock, said frame being folded through said notches transversely to the length 01 the frame stock to form frame corners so that the edges cf each notch are in substantial abutrnent and the frame is closed by abutment of said ends, said flanges forming a substantially continuous peripherally extending channel within said planar web, and said integrally formed frame securing interlockable finger elements being disposed in interdigitated clasped relationship With the finger elements extending from each of said frame stock bent into overlying surface engagement against the outer surface of the opposite end of said frame stock immediately endwise inward of the finger elements Which extend ontward from said opposite and to thereby tightly lock together the opposite ends f said frame structre the space between each pair of adjacent finger elements formed -at one end said frame stock corresponding in osition and width to that of a finger element formed at the other end 013 said frame stock so (hat the interdigitated fingers prevent lateral movement of said 4 frame stock ends With respect to one another in the locked up frame.

2. The frarne structure as set forth in claim 1 further including at least one bracket locking element formed integrally With and turned out of the said frame stock, and at least one bracket fixedly secured to said frame proxirnate to at least one cf said frame corners by means 0f said at least one bracket locking element.

3. The frame structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said laterally spaced interlockable frame securing finger elements a.re formed from said planar web With at least some of said finger elements extending as longitudinal coutinuations of said central web ortion disposed between said flanges while others of said finger elements extend as longitudinal continuations of said side margins.

Rlzferences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 204-9925 8/1936 Rafter 287189.36 X 2241266 5/1941 Mayne et al 52--658 2589864 3/1952 Rask'm 287189.36 X 2869694 1/1959 Breckheimer 287-189.36 X 2952342 9/1960 Schmittker 287189.36 X 3,005513 10/ 1961 Larson 182-228 X DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Examiner.

P. M. CAUN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FOLDED ONE PIECE PERIMETER FRAME STRUCTURE OF CENTRALLY OPEN TRANSVERSE CROSS SECTION FORMED FROM A UNITARY PIECE OF FRAME STOCK WHICH IS UNFOLDED FORM IS CHARACTERIZED BY HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING PLANAR WEB WITH OPPOSITE ENDS AND SIDE EDGES AND FROM ONE PLANAR SURFACE OF WHICH OUTWARDLY PROJECT A PAIR OF SPACED APART LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING PARALLEL FLANGES SPACED INWARD FROM SAID SIDE EDGES AND EXTENDING FROM END TO END TO THEREBY DIVIDE SAID PLANAR WEB INTO A CENTRAL WEB DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID FLANGES AND A PAIR OF SIDE MARGINS DISPOSED RESPECTIVELY LATERALLY OUTWARD OF SAID FLANGES, SAID FLANGES BEING PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF TRANSVERSELY ALIGNED LONGITUDINALLY SPACED V-SHAPED NOTCHES EACH EXTENDING FROM THE FLANGES OUTER EDGE CONVERGINGLY INWARD TO THE POINT WHERE THE FLANGE MEETS THE PLANAR WEB, AND LATERALLY SPACED FRAME SECURING FINGER ELEMENTS INTERLOCKABLE WITH ONE ANOTHER INTEGRALLY FORMED AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY FROM EACH OF THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE FRAME STOCK, SAID FRAME BEING FOLDED THROUGH SAID NOTCHES TANSVERSELY TO THE LENGTH OF THE FRAME STOCK TO FORM FRAME CORNERS SO THAT THE EDGES OF EACH NOTCH ARE IN SUBSTANTIAL ABUTMENT AND THE FRAME IS CLOSED BY ABUTMENT OF SAID ENDS, SAID FLANGES FORMING A SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUS PERIPHERALLY EXTENDING CHANNEL WITH SAID PLANAR WEB, AND SAID INTEGRALLY FORMED FRAME SECURING INTERLOCKABLE FINGER ELEMENTS BEING DISPOSED IN INTERDIGITATED CLASPED RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FINGER ELEMENTS EXTENDING FROM EACH OF SAID FRAME STOCK BENT INTO OVERLYING SURFACE ENGAGEMENT AGAINST THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID FRAME STOCK IMMEDIATELY ENDWISE INWARD OF THE FINGER ELEMENTS WHICH EXTEND OUTWARD FROM SAID OPPOSITE END TO THEREBY TIGHTLY LOCK TOGETHER THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID FRAME STRUCTURE THE SPACE BETWEEN EACH PAIR OF ADJACENT FINGER ELEMENTS FORMED AT ONE END SAID FRAME STOCK CORRESPONDING IN POSITION AND WIDTH TO THAT OF A FINGER ELEMENT FORMED AT THE OTHER END OF SAID FRAME STOCK SO THAT THE FRAME STOCK ENDS WITH RESPECT TO ONE ANOTHER IN THE LOCKED UP FRAME. 